ASPE - Code Tidbit

This month's presentation is on meters. After some review of the Plumbing and Residential Codes, little is said about water meters in the Codes. The Codes have minor requirements 'when' or 'if' meters are provided, but they do not require them.

Meter provisions are generally required by local law or local regulation (by building department or water authority). I performed the exercise of trying to find the basis of Albany's meter requirements on their website. I was not successful. I e-mailed them and have not received a response within the last week. The lesson, of course, is to contact the Albany AHJ directly by phone.

Conversely, I thought I'd take a peek at the meter requirements were I live - Guilderland, NY. After a quick word search on their website, Section 272-5 of the Town Laws was the quick search result. The requirements are below. I found the most humorous part of the law was customers pay for the meter, pay the Water Department to install/test/maintain them, and the Water Department owns them. This is good work if you can get it…

Section 272-5 Installation of meters; specifications; fees

A. An individual meter shall be required for each separate service line to a premises. The users of water shall at no - time tamper with the meter. Any tampering with the water meter shall constitute a violation of this chapter.

B. All water meters will be purchased from the Department of Water and Wastewater Management, except as set forth hereafter. All meters will be purchased at the owner's cost. The water district will be responsible for installation, removal, maintenance and testing of said water meters, and all water meters will become water district property. Subdivision developers (those developing three or more lots) shall purchase water meters directly from a supplier, which water meters shall conform to the Water Department specifications for said water meters.

C. Submetering will not be permitted.

D. Meters larger than two inches shall be compound meters and furnished by the Water Department at the owner's expense and shall be set at or near the property line or in a place designated by the Department, and all expense in connection with its proper housing, including a bypass for testing, shall be borne by the customer. Such meters shall be maintained and repaired at the expense of the customers. A diagram of the pit and proper piping shall be approved by the Department.

E. The Department reserves the right to remove, test and repair any meter at any time.

F. Vacation of premises; fee.

(1) If any premises is vacated, the consumer may, on written notification to the Department, request that the water meter be removed and stored.

(2) During the period the meter is out of service, no charge for water service will be made.

(3) When service is again requested, the district will reestablish service for a fee as set by resolution of the Town Board from time to time.

G. Meters will at all times be protected from freezing. In the event that the meter is damaged by freezing or other external cause, the Department will replace the meter and a bill will be rendered to the consumer for the cost of repairs.

H. The district will maintain, repair and test, when necessary, all meters. The Department reserves the right to remove and test the meters as required. In case of a disputed account involving the accuracy of a meter, the Department will test the meter upon the request of the customer. A fee as set by resolution of the Town Board from time to time is required. In the event that the meter is found to over-register in excess of 2% at any flow rate within normal test flow limits, the fee will not be charged to the customer; otherwise it will be retained by the District as a charge and included on the next water bill.